Moffat County, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Moffat County
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Round Bottom Area in Moffat County, Colorado
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Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
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 Colorado's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| Founded | February 27, 1911 |
| Named for | David H. Moffat |
| Seat | Craig |
| Largest city | Craig |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4,751 sq mi (12,310 km2) |
| • Land | 4,743 sq mi (12,280 km2) |
| • Water | 7.6 sq mi (20 km2) 0.2%% |
| Population | |
| • Estimate
(2020)
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13,292 |
| • Density | 2.8/sq mi (1.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
Moffat County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,292. The county seat is Craig. With an area of 4,751 square miles, it is the 2nd largest county by area in Colorado, behind Las Animas County.
Moffat County comprises the Craig, CO Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Steamboat Springs-Craig, CO Combined Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Moffat County was created out of the western portion of Routt County on February 27, 1911. The county was named for David H. Moffat, a Colorado tycoon who died in 1911. His railroad, the Denver, Northwestern & Pacific, attempted to build a route from Denver to Salt Lake City. In 1913, a reorganized railroad, the Denver & Salt Lake, reached as far as Craig, the county seat, but no further. In the late 1890s and early 1900s, all Colorado District Courts were held in Denver, Colorado, in the State courthouse there, due to a lack of funds to build courthouses locally. All murder trials were held in Denver, in the District Courts. Allegedly, so many politically motivated murders occurred between the predominantly liberal, then, eastern Routt County, Colorado residents and the predominantly conservative, then, western Routt County residents, that the presiding judges—tired of presiding over these murder trials—requested that the State legislature split Routt County into what is now Routt and Moffat County; the legislature complied.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,751 square miles (12,310 km2), of which 4,743 square miles (12,280 km2) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km2) (0.2%) is water. It is the second-largest county by area in Colorado.
Adjacent counties
- Routt County - east
- Rio Blanco County - south
- Uintah County, Utah - west
- Daggett County, Utah - west
- Sweetwater County, Wyoming - north
- Carbon County, Wyoming - north
National protected areas
- Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge
- Dinosaur National Monument
- Routt National Forest
- White River National Forest
- Yampa River State Park
Scenic byway
Major highways
U.S. Highway 40
State Highway 13
State Highway 64
State Highway 317
State Highway 318
State Highway 394
Wyoming Highway 70
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 5,129 | — | |
| 1930 | 4,861 | −5.2% | |
| 1940 | 5,086 | 4.6% | |
| 1950 | 5,946 | 16.9% | |
| 1960 | 7,061 | 18.8% | |
| 1970 | 6,525 | −7.6% | |
| 1980 | 13,133 | 101.3% | |
| 1990 | 11,357 | −13.5% | |
| 2000 | 13,184 | 16.1% | |
| 2010 | 13,795 | 4.6% | |
| 2020 | 13,292 | −3.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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As of the census of 2000, there were 13,184 people, 4,983 households, and 3,577 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 5,635 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.61% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.17% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. 9.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,983 households, out of which 38.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,528, and the median income for a family was $45,511. Males had a median income of $37,288 versus $22,080 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,540. About 6.90% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.30% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
City
Town
Census-designated place
Other unincorporated places
- Elk Springs
- Greystone
- Hamilton
- Massadona
- Lay
Images for kids
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Fortification Rocks in Moffat County are a volcanic uplifts just to the west of Colorado State Highway 13.
See also
- In Spanish: Condado de Moffat
